Romancing the atom
Subtitle: nuclear infatuation from the radium girls to Fukushima
By: Robert R. Johnson
Publisher: Praeger
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Santa Barbara, Calif
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 220
ISBN-13: 9780313392795; 9780313392801
Subjects: Nuclear industry; Atomic bomb; History
Other titles: Vignettes of the atomic mindset from the radium girls to nuclear green
Description: This book presents a compelling account of atomic development
over the last century that demonstrates how humans have repeatedly chosen to ignore the associated impacts for the sake of technological, scientific, military, and economic expediency.

The atom and its associated power have captivated the human consciousness for more than 100 years. From the production of glow-in-the-dark wristwatch faces to studies on the effects of radiation on the human body, there have been many shocking examples of our willingness to expose innocent victims to great harm in exchange for the perceived benefit.

In 1945, Albert Einstein said, "The release of atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking … the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind." This statement seems more valid today than ever. Romancing the Atom: Nuclear Infatuation from the Radium Girls to Fukushima presents compelling moments that clearly depict the folly and shortsightedness of our "atomic mindset" and sheds light upon current issues of nuclear power, waste disposal, and weapons development.

The book consists of ten nonfiction historical vignettes, including the women radium dial painters of the 1920s, the expulsion of the Bikini Island residents to create a massive "petri dish" for post-World War II bomb and radiation testing, the government-subsidized uranium rush of the 1950s and its effects on Native American communities, and the secret radioactive material development facilities in residential neighborhoods. In addition, the book includes original interviews of prominent historians, writers, and private citizens involved with these poignant stories.

Go to <www.romancingtheatom.com> for more information on this book
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Acknowledgments ix; title: Introduction xi; title: PART ONE: INVENTING THE ATOMIC MINDSET:; title: DIAL PAINTERS, COMIC BOOKS, AND PARADISE; title: LOST; title: 1. For the Love of Pretty Things: The Radium Girls and; title: “Dying for Science” 3; title: 2. On a Need-to-Know Basis: From “The Bomb” to the; title: Uranium Frenzy to the Living Room 15; title: 3. “Only Answered in the Stars”: The Human Testing; title: of the Bikini Islanders 27; title: PART TWO: USING THE ATOMIC MINDSET:; title: NATIVE AMERICANS, GUINEA PIGS, AND URANIUM; title: COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 49; title: 4. Engagements with Rocks and Land: Uranium, Dine´; title: Culture, and the Yellow Monster 53; title: 5. Dangerous Familiars Part 1: Nuclear Science and Its; title: Human Subjects 69; title: 6. Dangerous Familiars Part 2: Three Cases of Human; title: Testing, 1949–2011 83; title: 7. Doing It in the Backyard: Alba Craft, Inc., Part 1 98; title: PART THREE: CONFRONTING THE ATOMIC; title: MINDSET: COMMUNITY ACTION, THE RHETORIC; title: OF NUCLEAR POWER, AND FUKUSHIMA 117; title: 8. What’s a Community to Do? The Alba Craft; title: Processing Site, Part 2 119; title: 9. Nuclear Green and the End of Power 140; title: 10. Nightmares Revisited: Japan, Tsunamis, the Atom,; title: and Ironies 152; title: Afterword: Of Romance, Soteigai, Celebrations,; title: and the Mundane 163; title: Appendix: Living in an Atomic World: Voices from; title: “On the Ground” of the Nuclear Age 167; title: Making Up Your Own Mindset: Reading Group Discussion; title: Questions and Classroom Resources 197; title: Bibliography 203; title: Index 213